To Tell Them
Henry's POV
September tenth. Today is September tenth, aka national suicide prevention day and national suicide prevention and awareness month. On this day, everybody in Swellview takes the evening off to attend a… "meeting" to inform the town on this serious issue. After one suicide attempt a couple of years ago, the town doesn't want it to happen and, to prevent it, they have this "meeting".
You may be wondering why I keep putting quotation around the word meeting. I am doing that because it is and isn't a meeting. What happens is everybody in town goes city hall. They serve dinner to everybody that decides to actually come. After everybody eats, they bring some people to speak about this issue. The people that speak reach from ranges of therapist to motivational speakers to people who have dealt with either their own or other people suicidal tendencies. Most of them are payed, but the people that speak about how they had to handle suicide are usually volunteers. More specifically, volunteers that are thirdy or older (you will understand later on). After the speaker all go up, Captain Man would go up and say a few words. When he's finished, if there is time, they show some videos about suicide and its causes/effects.
My family and I always avoid the meeting as best we can for some unwanted reasons. The only reason I know how the meetings goes is because they film them for other people to see. The only difference this year is that I'm actually going to the meeting. I'm going there as Henry Hart and not as Kid Danger.
During all the other days of this month, the schools and stores do something for awareness. Some examples are doing a quote of the day, showing videos they have found, making posters, (the schools) have projects to show awareness, and so much more.
"HENRY!" Charlotte yelled in my ear. Yeah, that definitely snapped me out of my thoughts.
"OW!" I yell back holding my ear.
"Sorry, but I've been trying to get your attention for the last five minutes."
"Sorry about that Char. What's you need?"
"I was just asking if you knew were either Ray or Schwoz are?"
"I think Ray is getting ready for the meeting tonight and I have no clue where Schwoz is."
"Thanks."
"Hey kids!" Exclaimed Ray in his usual jovial way. He had just exited the sprocket in his Captain Man outfit.
"Hey." Charlotte and I said unanimously. I gave a lazy wave while doing so.
"Hey, Ray, do you know where this goes?" Charlotte asked, justering to the object, that I just now noticed, in her hands. It's weird looking. To me, it looks like a box on a stick with a hole on top.
"Ah, my old force field. Haven't seen this since Schwoz and I made the improved version." Ray said in a reminiscent way as he looked at the device. He took the device, looked up at Charlotte, and said "I'll deal with it later so don't worry about it."
"'Kay." Charlotte replied with a shrug. She sat at the computer and started to type away. Ray came and sat with me on the couch.
"So, Henry, are you going to come to the meeting tonight?" Ray asked me. I stiffened at this question and Ray definitely noticed. I could tell that Charlotte heard the question because the sound of typing stopped. "Is something the matter?"
I can just imagine Charlotte behind me doing the "say-no-more" sign to Ray. It doesn't help that Ray is looking in her direction with a confused face. I just gave a little sigh.
"Yeah, actually, I am going." I state. I can sense the shocked look Charlotte is sending my direction. Ray merely smiled and said "good."
When Charlotte finally snapped out of it, she exclaimed, "Wow wow wow! Wait just a second! You and your family never go to these meetings! Why is this year any different?!"
"It just is okay." I said as calmly as possible.
"Your family never go to the meetings? Why?" Ray asked with genuine curiosity.
"It's complicated." I state lamely. I couldn't think anything else up. Even if I could, I couldn't bear to lie to them. I couldn't stand to lose them. Nor Jasper or Dagon.* Even though I may end up losing all of them tonight.
I notice that my breathing has picked from thinking about tonight. I can tell the other two occupants in the room have noticed too. I take a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart.
"I better get home." I say walking to the tubs before either of them can say anything to me. I tap on my watch to lower the tub around me. A moment before I say "up the tub," I hear Ray ask Charlotte about what just happened a second ago.
-*City hall*-
A moment after entering, an arm wrapped itself around my shoulders. I instantly knew it was Dagon.
I should probably explain Dagon. Dagon is my boyfriend. He is that kid that has all the girls fling themselves at him while being an emo. When I say emo, I don't mean that stereotypical emo that everybody thinks is all depressed, definitely not. I mean emo as in the guy that is actually a normally happy (or pissed depending on the person) kid that wears black most of the time. Anyways, yeah, he's a ladies man even though he is gay.
An open gay. Where as, I'm a closeted bi. Luckily, he was willing to wait for me to come out to reveal we're dating. The only people to know that are our families.
I look up at him and smile. He is about an inch and a half taller them, but that's fine. I pull away from Dagon to stand in front of him. I sweep a strand of dust brown hair out of his face as I look into his beautiful amazon* eyes. He smiles at the action. Lucky for me, no one seen this encounter. Dagon walked me over to where his family is. Apparently, my family had located them already because they were all sitting together (including Piper).
Dagon's family consists of four other people. One is Xander Raptis, Dagon's father. Xander is like a big teddy bear, scary looking but soft and cuddly. Next is Dagon's mother, Vera Rains-Raptis. Vera is a very loving woman, but a little paranoid, that's why she kept her maiden name. Then there are the twins, Artemis and Apollo. Artemis is a level-headed young girl that thinks everything through and then makes up back-up plans. Apollo is a spur-of-the-moment kind of guy that always has a mischievous smile on his face. They are both nine and Piper's best friends. If something were to happen to one of them, you knew there was going to be hell to pay.
Right now, we were all having supper. Everybody in the area was just chatting away. Suddenly, Dagon looks to me and whispers in my ear, "Are you okay? You seem tense."
"I'm fine, just a little nervous." I say with a nervous laugh. He cocked his eyebrow at that, but didn't ask about it thankfully.
"Hey, Henry." I hear a voice say. I look up to see Ray standing next to the table. He isn't in his Captain Man suit. I guess he didn't want to deal with fans right now and, in all honesty, I didn't really either.
"Hey, Ray. What's up?" I say in response. I give him a smile to look as normal as possible and not like I could pass out from nervousness at any second now.
"Nothing much. Just waiting for the speaks to start. You?"
"Same. Did you come alone or is Schwoz somewhere around here?"
"Schwoz and Gooch are both here actually. This is the only town meeting Gooch ever goes to."
"Alright then."
"Aren't you Henry's boss?" Asked Apollo, even though you can tell he already knows. Knowing that boy, he already has some sort of evil plan boiling in his head.
"Why yes. Yes I am." Ray said giving his Captain Man smile. I roll my eyes at his antics.
"So how is my little Henry doing at work?" My mom asks in that way that sounds like she is flirting when we all know (except for Ray) that she isn't.
"Oh. I can't say for sure. Maybe you should swing by sometime to see what you think." Ray says as flirtatiously as possible. My dad is just looking between them in confusion. Oh, my poor oblivious father.
"Maybe I will take you up on that offer." I sure hope she doesn't or byebye Kid Danger.
"Yeah maybe we will." My father says, finally catching on to what's happening. I see Dagon shaking his head in my prefriral. I hope, after tonight, I still have him at least.
"Now, if everybody takes their seats, we will begin momentarily." Vice Mayor Willard announces over the mics. I take a deep breath. 'It's now or never.'
*Dagon is an OC because there are only 6 other guys in the show that aren't related to him and 3 of the 6 are adults. Sorry. Just not into pedophilia. As for the other 3, they are just awkward pairings.
*Amazon is an actual eye color. I had looked it up.
I hope you like it. For those people that like to make stories bleed, murder my story please. It will help me greatly. Thank you.
Dreadful dreams,
Ravenheart1999